Android World: AndroidGuys

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

AndroidGuys

Pick of the Day: PowerFlask
Google debuts Google+ Sign-In, the Facebook Login and Open Graph killer
Get this look for your Android: Rust
Is Google worried about Samsung?

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 09:36 AM PST

Welcome to Pick of the Day, a daily post which aims to highlight various goings-on in the Android space. Whether it’s an app, a game, an accessory, or service, we’re here to share the news. Our goal here is to help you new and season Android users discover new and wonderful things for your device.

We understand that some of you may already know about the highlighted product(s) so we’re asking for your help. If you see something that you consider to be similar or perhaps better than what we showcase, be sure to share that in the comments below. Together, we can educate each other as a community.

Accessory of the Day: PowerFlask

What they say: An essential item for both travel and day-to-day mobility, the PowerFlask delivers a vigorous 13000mAh of charging power for all of your mobile devices. Featuring a pocket-friendly design for handy portability, the PowerFlask lets you simultaneously charge three mobile devices at once, making it the perfect choice for families and individuals with multiple mobile devices.

What we say: We love the idea of charging up to three devices at one time, even if they are not all Android. The 30-pin iPad/iPhone connectors, a USB-to-Micro-USB charging cable, and USB-to-Dual-Micro-USB-charging cable make sure we can charge up just about anything we would carry around. At 13000mAh, the battery is strong enough to top off a phone, tablet, and MP3 player… twice. As a bonus, there are two bright LED lights for emergency situations.

Where to Buy: PowerFlask and Amazon

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Google debuts Google+ Sign-In, the Facebook Login and Open Graph killer

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:53 AM PST

You know how many of your favorite Android games let you sign in with a Facebook account? You know many times that sign-in leads to spammy wall posts or clutter in your news feed? Google today announced something similar with Google+ sign-in, however there’s nary a trace of that added junk. Today, Google debuts its Facebook Login and Open Graph killer.

Google+ Sign-In lets users sign in to your Android app with their existing Google credentials, and bring along their Google+ info for an upgraded experience. In addition to basic authentication, today's release includes features that can accelerate both app downloads and engagement.

Now, instead of asking you to log-in with Facebook or create an account, you can bring your Google+ profile along for the ride. Once tied to the app, your credentials are synchronized and you’re off and running. A number of developers have already been using this feature, including Fancy, Flixter, OpenTable, Shazam, and USAToday.

So what about all the times you log in with an app and favorite a song, station or movie? Will that show up for all of your circles? Only if you want it to. You can customize who sees what and how often.

Users' app activities will only be visible to the Google+ circles they specify (if any), and they'll only appear when they're relevant. Putting users in control, and not spraying their stream builds trust in your app, and encourages meaningful sharing.

Another great feature is that users will find that many websites can lead to a seamless and even more better expression. Log in with your Google+ account on one of these websites and you’ll be asked if you’d like to install the Android app – instantly.

It’s pretty obvious that this move will lead to more Google+ adoption and peel away at Facebook’s strangle on social login. This is an uphill battle, sure, but Google is positioning themselves quite nicely. I don’t know about you but I really enjoy a simple login experience. Conversely, I cannot stand how many apps and games tell me that my friends just got a new high score or that they just listened to a specific song. Here’s to Google doing it right.

Google

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Get this look for your Android: Rust

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 08:19 AM PST

One of our absolute favorite things about Android is the fact that you can bend and tweak the platform to your needs. Sure, there’s rooting and modding for deep level personalization, but that stuff does not always concern the everyday user. Some of just want to change the home screen around a bit and create a new user experience. To that end, we present our weekly series of Get This Look posts.

In a nutshell we will show you a new look for your Android handset and tell you which apps you’ll need if you want to mimic the feel. Note that the following details are but the ingredients to which you can create your own delicious Android dish – results will vary. But that’s awesome. In fact, many of the designs we highlight tend to use the same apps.

Rust by BadBrad

WHY WE LOVE THIS LOOK:

We decided that we’d pick a look that was almost completely opposite of the clean and Google Now-like stuff that has been highlighted the last few rounds. We say almost because we’re still stuck on the white and minimal looking icons. No matter how hard we try, we just like the way things look when you employ such simple touches.

The apps used to create this look can lead to some great creations and the wallpaper can be swapped out with anything else along those lines. If you’re looking for gritty, rusty, and grungy wallpapers, we recently showcased a handful.

We really appreciate having the Google Search icon/widget so close at hand and find it convenient in the middle of the screen. It’s unobtrusive and works well here – a welcome departure from the norm. The top widget is a real gem and we cannot believe we’ve not featured it here before. We suspect, however, that Zooper Widget Pro will become quite popular over time.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Anything Else?

MyColorScreen is dedicated to the great ways you can modify your home screens.

The post Get this look for your Android: Rust appeared first on AndroidGuys.

Is Google worried about Samsung?

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 07:13 AM PST

There’s an interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal today which suggests that Google’s Andy Rubin may be troubled by the growing momentum in Samsung. The post Samsung Sparks Anxiety at Google tells of a Google which has become worried that Samsung will soon try to throw its weight around.

X-Phone

You know the whole Google and Motorola acquisition? Reportedly, that was not only about securing patents but also a hedged bet against Samsung. The chatter about an X-Phone to combat the iPhone and Samsung seems to carry more weight. Initially, I couldn’t understand why Google would want to compete against Samsung but now I do.

More advertising revenue

Samsung is reported to earn roughly 10% in online-advertising revenue that Google generates from its search engine. But, with growing market share and no foreseeable threats, Samsung may ask for a bigger piece of the pie. In fact, Samsung is already said to have indicated that they do want more.

More Android leverage

In addition to a larger advertising revenue split, Samsung could also ask for earlier access to Android. This, as I see it, would likely compound the “threat” of Samsung. Google giving a head start to Samsung would only add to the appeal of a Galaxy product.

Consider that it’s also not only about what Samsung asks Google to provide but what Samsung could get from others. Imagine a scenario where Samsung begins to build in Microsoft Bing as the search engine and cuts Google out of ads. Samsung already works with Microsoft for mobile devices running Windows Phone. Samsung is also developing an OS with Intel, Tizen, which could help to fracture relationships.

Really, who could blame Samsung for such a move? Two years ago, the Droid brand was synonymous with Android as a platform. Today, people ask, “Is that your Galaxy?” as if it’s either iPhone or Galaxy. Android has grown leaps and bounds in the last few years, largely on the backs of Samsung.

Samsung has worked hard to offer branded experiences and services (Media Hub, Samsung Apps, etc). Are they not allowed to take on Google, Amazon, and Apple? Amazon uses Android for its Kindle Fire series and also provides an app ecosystem. Can they not also do the same for its handsets and tablets? I’m not saying I like the idea; however, I cannot fault them for having lofty aspirations.

Too soon to worry?

Of course, much is being made about something before it has actually happened. Samsung is not threatening to drop Android and Google is not giving a head start to other handset makers. At least, this is what we see publicly. Google has said on a number of time that it does not care what happens with Android and that it’s free to use in any manner. Then again, for Google not to worry at all would be be folly.

There are countless other handset makers using Android and the platform is rising as a whole. Unfortunately (or not), there does not appear to be anyone making the level of noise that Samsung is. Sure, names like Huawei and ZTE are growing their base and steadily rising around the world. Still, at 40.2% of the market, Samsung is far ahead of second place Huawei and its 6.6% share.

HTC, LG, Sony, and Motorola are the names we are most familiar with in the United States however we should also not discount Pantech, ZTE, and Huawei. As a whole, these guys are moving the needle forward; some, are doing better than others. The HTC One looks to be an excellent flagship experience for 2013 and the Xperia Z is one of the best devices we’ve seen yet. Looking forward, LG will continue building steam and the Optimus G series could become a much-anticipated line.

The Motorola X-Phone could be Google’s way of combining in-house expertise on hardware and software, much in the manner of Apple’s iPhone. Google has repeatedly denied any special favor or advantage for its mobile arm but that does not mean they would not consider such a thing. The biggest problem, here, is not that it could strain a relationship with Samsung, but that it could do the same for all other Android phone manufacturers. It’s a fine line to be sure.

Backup plans

The name of the game right now is contingency plans. We can see that with handset makers employing Windows Phone, buying up WebOS, or developing new platforms. Toss in Mozilla’s Firefox OS and things get even muddier. A web-based platform such as Chrome works exceedingly well for netbooks; 4G LTE could give way to a similar experience for mobile devices.

Remember that Android is only a few years old and that things change quickly in the mobile space. Ask RIM or Nokia and they’ll tell you how fast things can move.

What’s next?

I suspect that much of what happens in the next year is already being mapped out and that we’re waiting for things to unfold in the public eye. I get the sense that Google and everyone involved is staring at each other with their hands on their hips, ready to draw.

We’ll likely see hints of Google’s ambitions with the unveiling of the X-Phone where we will see how the device is positioned. How will it be offered? Will it be advertised any differently than Nexus products? Will consumers buy into the idea?

What’s your take?

What do you think of all of this? Should Google be concerned about Samsung and the momentum of the Galaxy brand? Would they be justified in giving the X-Phone special favor? How would you treat the relationships with other handset makers? I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!

WSJ

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